County Water Bills May Rise Next Year

County water utilities customers may face a 4.5 percent increase in residential rates under a proposed budget for next year, water utility officials said on Monday.

The increase would add 85 cents to the average customer's monthly bill, water utilities chief Bevin Beaudet said. Commercial customers would see their rates rise even higher, by about 10 percent, and connection fees would climb 4 percent.

The increases are proposed as part of the Water Utilities Department's $178 million budget, which is $25 million less than the department's 1994-95 spending package.

The utility serves about 280,000 customers in unincorporated areas.

None of the county's cities are affected because they have their own water utilities, and some serve customers beyond their city limits.

Beaudet said the increase, which must be approved by the County Commission, is needed to pay for $186 million in new or upgraded plants and equipment during the next six years. It would be the first increase in two years.

None of the new revenue is needed for operating costs. The higher rates would mean the department would not have to borrow money for its capital projects, including $13.6 million to expand the water treatment plant next to the Sandalfoot Cove Golf Course in Boca Raton by 1998 and $44 million to expand the Southern Region Wastewater Treatment Plant in Delray Beach.

The malodorous wastewater plant at U.S. 441 and Yamato Road would also be taken out of operation by 1997 under the new budget plan.

The improvements are needed because the Water Utilities Department expects a customer base of 500,000 by 2020, Beaudet said.